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Zoo InternQuest is a seven-week career exploration program for San Diego County high school juniors and seniors. Students have the unique opportunity to meet professionals working for the San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, and Institute for Conservation Research, learn about their jobs, and then blog about their experience online. Follow their adventure here on the Zoo’s website!
Everyone has to go to the doctors, even the animals at the San Diego Zoo. Dr. Meg Sutherland-Smith, the Director of Veterinary Services at the Zoo, along with her colleagues, ensure that all the animals get the best care they can with the least amount of stress. An animal may be sent to the hospital for anything from a physical injury to a loss of appetite or an unusual behavior.
No matter the problem, the hospital at the Zoo is well equipped to find the solution. Their facility is designed with abnormally large rooms, which allows for a better, more efficient use of space. In addition to the buildings themselves, the modern technology allows for more precise diagnoses and procedures. Ben Nevitt, an Associate Veterinarian, showed the interns the radiology equipment. The radiograph machine, or the instrument used to take X-rays, has a head that is able to move around the whole room. This ability allows the doctors to focus their radiographs on certain parts of an animal’s body to get a more accurate diagnosis.
However, according to Dr. Sutherland-Smith, their most important technology is their cameras. The Zoo has cameras placed in every room of hospital with the ability to zoom in with incredible clarity. A control room in the hospital has a monitor to view any the live footage from any camera in the hospital. This allows the doctors to observe an animal in recovery during any time of the day. Although it may seem trivial, the cameras provide the doctors with the opportunity to observe the animal’s behavior when it believes it is not being watched. Many species, especially birds, have a tendency to hide their illnesses to avoid appearing weak or disabled to predators or even other herd or flock members. Many birds, for example, with puff up their feathers or droop their wings when they are sick. However if a keeper is to walk into the room while displaying this behavior, they would quickly cease that behavior and appear completely healthy. If they are alone, they are more likely to relax and reveal the full extent of their symptoms.
The doctors at the Zoo hospital do their very best to ensure the best health for all the animals, whether it be a Hummingbird or a Tiger. Their work on a daily basis contributes to the continued survival of the diverse number of species on our planet, all of whom have equally important roles in its ecosystems. According to Dr. Sutherland-Smith, conservation is a huge part of their jobs at the hospital. One of their most direct contributions to conservation is maintaining sustainable numbers of all species. In addition, they support many different conservation programs, and work in conjunction with other organizations both directly and indirectly related to reintroduction programs.
Along with their work at the Zoo hospital, both Dr. Sutherland-Smith and Dr. Nevitt are involved with outside conservation projects. Dr. Sutherland-Smith works closely with the San Clemente loggerhead shrike, an endangered subspecies of a bird species native to San Clemente Island, as a veterinary advisor. Similarly, Dr. Nevitt worked on a project called the Philippine Turtle Crisis. There was a huge confiscation of Philippine turtles; more than they believed were left in the wild. Of these confiscated animals, many were not in good health. Dr. Nevitt was one of several veterinarians on the project who helped to nurse the turtles back to health.
To help combat these types of problems, Dr. Nevitt believes that their most important contribution to conservation is education of the future generations. They work to provide good healthcare to the animals at the Zoo ensures that generations to come will learn about their roles in the world and the importance of global species diversity. Hopefully, their work can help inspire change to protect wild populations and end habitat destruction, because nothing will change, if people aren’t aware of the problem.
Sara, Conservation Team
Week Five, Fall Session 2016
Everyone has to go to the doctors, even the animals at the San Diego Zoo. Dr. Meg Sutherland-Smith, the Director of Veterinary Services at the Zoo, along with her colleagues, ensure that all the animals get the best care they can with the least amount of stress. An animal may be sent to the hospital for anything from a physical injury to a loss of appetite or an unusual behavior.
No matter the problem, the hospital at the Zoo is well equipped to find the solution. Their facility is designed with abnormally large rooms, which allows for a better, more efficient use of space. In addition to the buildings themselves, the modern technology allows for more precise diagnoses and procedures. Ben Nevitt, an Associate Veterinarian, showed the interns the radiology equipment. The radiograph machine, or the instrument used to take X-rays, has a head that is able to move around the whole room. This ability allows the doctors to focus their radiographs on certain parts of an animal’s body to get a more accurate diagnosis.
However, according to Dr. Sutherland-Smith, their most important technology is their cameras. The Zoo has cameras placed in every room of hospital with the ability to zoom in with incredible clarity. A control room in the hospital has a monitor to view any the live footage from any camera in the hospital. This allows the doctors to observe an animal in recovery during any time of the day. Although it may seem trivial, the cameras provide the doctors with the opportunity to observe the animal’s behavior when it believes it is not being watched. Many species, especially birds, have a tendency to hide their illnesses to avoid appearing weak or disabled to predators or even other herd or flock members. Many birds, for example, with puff up their feathers or droop their wings when they are sick. However if a keeper is to walk into the room while displaying this behavior, they would quickly cease that behavior and appear completely healthy. If they are alone, they are more likely to relax and reveal the full extent of their symptoms.
The doctors at the Zoo hospital do their very best to ensure the best health for all the animals, whether it be a Hummingbird or a Tiger. Their work on a daily basis contributes to the continued survival of the diverse number of species on our planet, all of whom have equally important roles in its ecosystems. According to Dr. Sutherland-Smith, conservation is a huge part of their jobs at the hospital. One of their most direct contributions to conservation is maintaining sustainable numbers of all species. In addition, they support many different conservation programs, and work in conjunction with other organizations both directly and indirectly related to reintroduction programs.
Along with their work at the Zoo hospital, both Dr. Sutherland-Smith and Dr. Nevitt are involved with outside conservation projects. Dr. Sutherland-Smith works closely with the San Clemente loggerhead shrike, an endangered subspecies of a bird species native to San Clemente Island, as a veterinary advisor. Similarly, Dr. Nevitt worked on a project called the Philippine Turtle Crisis. There was a huge confiscation of Philippine turtles; more than they believed were left in the wild. Of these confiscated animals, many were not in good health. Dr. Nevitt was one of several veterinarians on the project who helped to nurse the turtles back to health.
To help combat these types of problems, Dr. Nevitt believes that their most important contribution to conservation is education of the future generations. They work to provide good healthcare to the animals at the Zoo ensures that generations to come will learn about their roles in the world and the importance of global species diversity. Hopefully, their work can help inspire change to protect wild populations and end habitat destruction, because nothing will change, if people aren’t aware of the problem.
Sara, Conservation Team
Week Five, Fall Session 2016
